Oven system for pressed food items

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention described herein thus provide systems and methods for creating a pressed food item in an oven cooking cavity. The oven system is secured within the oven cooking cavity and is not dependent upon oven door movement or any other oven function. A movable platen is configured to move up and down with respect to a lower platen in order to press a food item during the cooking process. The movable platen may be activated via an actuating arm that extends and is manipulated from outside the oven cooking cavity. In another example, the movable platen may be activated by motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An oven system for pressed food items, comprising:
 an oven housing comprising a cooking cavity; 
 a frame supporting a first platen and a second platen, the frame removable from and positionable within the cooking cavity, 
 the first and second platens mounted to the frame via at least one hinged connector, the second platen configured to move with respect to the first platen via pivotal movement of the at least one hinged connector, 
 at least one end of the at least one hinged connector comprising a rotatable element, 
 an actuating arm comprising a handle shaft and a rotation actuator, 
 the rotation actuator comprising an oven-side connection that is configured to receive the rotatable element of the at least one hinged connector, 
 wherein the frame is positioned within the cooking cavity by sliding the frame into the cooking cavity such that the oven-side connection of the rotation actuator of the actuating arm engages with the rotatable element of the at least one hinged connector, connecting the frame with the actuating arm, 
 wherein the frame is removed from the cooking cavity by sliding the frame out of the cooking cavity, causing the oven-side connection and rotatable element to disengage, 
 wherein the handle shaft of the actuating arm is mounted to the oven housing such that it extends outside the cooking cavity, 
 wherein manual activation of the actuating arm from outside the cooking cavity causes rotation of the oven-side connection of the rotation actuator, such that engagement between the oven-side connection and the rotatable element; causes pivoting of the at least one hinged connector, and movement of the second platen. 
 
     
     
       2. The oven system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation system comprises a linkage connecting the first platen and the second platen. 
     
     
       3. The oven system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation system comprises hinged connectors connecting the first platen and the second platen. 
     
     
       4. The oven system of  claim 1 , wherein the oven-side connection of the rotation actuator comprises an elongated protrusion, wherein the rotatable element of the frame comprises a groove, and wherein mating between the elongated protrusion and the groove both secures the frame within the oven cavity and provides cooperation between the actuating arm and the upper platen. 
     
     
       5. The oven system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating arm comprises an extension portion that extends the handle outside the oven cooking cavity. 
     
     
       6. The oven system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooking cavity comprises delivery of forced hot air and a microwave system. 
     
     
       7. The oven system of  claim 1 , wherein the first platen and second platen each have a first surface and a second surface, where the first surface and the second surface may be any combination between a flat surface, a ribbed surface, a slotted surface, or a stone surface, with the first surface having the same surface pattern as the second surface or a different surface pattern. 
     
     
       8. The oven system of  claim 1 , wherein the oven housing comprises a support with an internal channel for securing the actuating arm in place on a side of the oven housing. 
     
     
       9. The oven system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket securing the upper platen in place with respect to the frame. 
     
     
       10. The oven system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hinged connector comprises first and second hinged connectors. 
     
     
       11. The oven system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable element comprises a groove along its length, wherein the oven-side connection comprises a protrusion slidingly received by the groove in order to secure the frame within the oven cooking cavity. 
     
     
       12. The oven system of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuating arm support mounted on an external surface of the oven system, the actuating arm support comprising a channel that receives the actuating arm.